Page 84 of Losing Faith

“Close my door,” I bite out.

“You’re no better than her.”

I go still.

“I let her back in because she’s my mom and she’ssick.” When I notice the tears in her eyes, I realize she’s the same little girl I last saw all those years ago, desperate for her mom.

“You left us,” she continues angrily. “You don’t deserve to be saved. Not by us at least. Go with the Hales, you chose them, right?”

“They don’t want her either.” Elaine lets out a bitter laugh.

Harmony steps forward, tears trickling down her face. She tries to climb back into my car, but they both pull her back before shutting the door. I focus on her teary eyes, but they pull her away from my car.

I don’t want to leave her again, but when she nods, I drive off.

I stare at the pillin my hand, my stomach turning whennothingcomes to mind as to why I shouldn’t just swallow it.

Don’t swallow it. Crush it and sniff it instead.

Looking up at the ceiling of my car, my leg shakes in anticipation. Sniffling quietly I wipe my tears before focusing on the building beside me. I almost look down at my hand again until my eyes focus on the brunette sitting on the ground.

I can spot a drunk person from a mile away, but my eyes narrow as I realize it’s Erin and she’shigh. Slipping out of my car, I close the distance between us.

“Long time no see, stranger.” I kick her foot, and when she looks up at me, dread pulls at me because she looks really bad and I don’t want the responsibility of helping her. Not because I’m a bad friend, but because I want to sit next to her and get just as high.

“You here for a meeting?” I nod at the building behind her. “Come in with me.”

She laughs to herself and I force a smile as I pull her up to her feet.

“Fuck off, blondie.” She shoves me away with the bit of strength she has.

I take a step back. “I’m not going to knock your ass out for hitting me just now because you’re high, but I’m not going to let that slide twice so watch it, Houdini.”

She rolls her eyes before stumbling. I catch her and walk with her.

“Is this why I haven’t seen you in weeks?”

She nods in return as she leans her head on me. “Do you want to smoke?” She shuffles in her pocket but I force myself not to look down.

“I don’t smoke, Erin.”

She laughs again as she hangs her head low. “Right… you’re an oxy girl.”

I swallow the bitter taste in my mouth as I pull the door, and I struggle to do so while holding her up, but I get us inside.

“Have you tried smoking it? It’swaybetter than sniffing.”

I plaster a smile on my face, really wishing I slept off the urges and just stayed in my damn bed. “I haven’t…”

“You should.”

“Erin, please stop.” I scan the room for Winter, frantic to get the hell away from this girl. When she gets too heavy, I sit her on a nearby chair.

“Why are you here?” She glances up at me, her skin pale, and her lips dry.

“Winter holds night meetings.”

“Why areyouhere?” she asks again before leaning to the side and I catch her before she can fall.

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